Mayors say cooperation key to success

LaPorte, Michigan City officials look ahead to 2006.

LaPorte, Michigan City officials look ahead to 2006.

January 02, 2006|STAN MADDUX Tribune Correspondent

MICHIGAN CITY -- Among the major accomplishments in Michigan City during 2005 is continued progress toward redeveloping the area surrounding Blue Chip Casino, according to Mayor Chuck Oberlie. The most recent step forward was this week's demolition of the old Boulevard Foods store at Fifth Street and Michigan Boulevard. In 2006, the effort to beautify the city's north end across from the casino boat along Trail Creek will remain a top priority, Oberlie said. Oberlie said several more buildings near the casino along Eighth Street between Michigan Boulevard and E Street will be torn down next year. And Oberlie expects the city to be close to acquiring Blocksom & Co. in 2006, a decades-old manufacturing plant near the boat that could pose the biggest challenge, perhaps, to adding walkways, fishing access and other public access features along that stretch of the creek. Blocksom & Co. has gone to court to fight the city's decision to exercise its eminent domain powers in hopes of derailing plans by the city to purchase and relocate the plant. "Over the course of time we would expect to buy. It's a question of the city getting in a position to make an offer," Oberlie said. "I would think in the year 2006, the acquisition issue will be answered," Oberlie said. LaPorte In LaPorte, top on the achievement list for 2005 in the eyes of Mayor Leigh Morris is construction of a new north side fire station, which posed financial hurdles and stirred up a great deal of controversy. About a month ago, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a facility that will cost about $1.5 million when completed this year on East Shore Court between Pine Lake Avenue and McClung Road. The new building will replace the existing north side fire station at Pine Lake Avenue and Truesdell Avenue, a facility built some 70 years ago that's now cramped and outdated. "That's something that administrations have been working on for over 20 years and we finally have it now in place," Morris said. Some people believe placing the fire station on the city's far north side was done to position LaPorte for annexation to the north along Indiana 39 and U.S. 35. The fire station and a land swap with local business owner John Diedrich that paved the way for the recent groundbreaking was used to collect more than 700 signatures on a petition in urging the mayor to rethink his stance. In 2006, annexation will remain a high priority for Morris, who has appointed committees that are expected to recommend soon if the city should pursue annexation and, if so, which areas the city should incorporate. Morris and Oberlie also believe 2005 marked the beginning of a real, long-lasting cooperative spirit among local governments in LaPorte County to help spur economic growth. Oberlie said an example of such cooperation is LaPorte, Michigan City and county officials are now developing uniform plans for future road, sewer and other infrastructure-related construction. "It all truly came together in 2005 and I think it bodes well for the future development of LaPorte County," Oberlie said.